Lower Limb Flashcards
Calcaneus: Description
The calcaneus is the largest of the tarsal bones and is colloquially refered to as the heel bone.
Function: Inversion and eversion, transfer of force between the leg and the heel pad.
Location: below the talus
Calcaneus: Gross Anatomy
- Irregular box shaped bone
Features:
- Calcaneal tuberosity (heel) – posterior projection with:
- Lateral process
- Medial process
- Posteriorly – superior, middle (attachment for the Achilles) and inferior facet
- Sustentaculum tali – antero-medial process inferior to which is a groove from the flexor halluces longus
- Dorsal surface – location of the anterior, middle and posterior talocalcaneal facets, the tarsal sinus runs between the middle and posterior facets.
- Anterior process - anterior projection the anterior surface of which has the facet for the cuboid
Calcaneus: Articulation
- Talus via the anterior, middle and posterior articular facets
- Cuboid via the facet for the cuboid on the anterior surface
- Shares a joint space with the talonavicular joint forming the talocalcaneonavicular joint
Calcaneus: Relations
- Superior: talocalcaneal joint, talus, sinus tarsi
- Inferior: fad pad, long and short plantar ligaments
- Anterior: calcaneocuboidal joint, cuboid bone
- Posterior: Achilles tendon
- Medial: Tendon of flexor hallucis longus, deltoid ligament of the ankle, tibial nerve, posterior tibial artery
- Lateral: Tendons of peroneus longus and brevis
Calcaneus: Neurovasculature
- Medial and lateral calcaneal arteries from the posterior tibial and fibular arteries
- Artery of the tarsal sinus
Innervation:
- Tibial, sural and deep fibular nerves
Calcaneus: Variants
- Talocalcaneal coalition
- Calcaneonavicular coalition
- Os calcaneus secundaris
Femur: Description
Long bone of the thigh
Function: transfer force between the hip and leg
Femur: Gross Anatomy
Proximal portion:
- Head globular hemisphere covered in synovial cartilage except for the central fovea (attachment of ligamentum terres)
- Neck thinner process through which a large majority of the blood supply to the head flows
- Greater trochanter – large irregular lateral attachment site
- Lesser trochanter – conical posteromedial attachment site
- Intertrocanteric line anteriorly
- Intertrocanteric crest posteriorly
Shaft:
- Long
- Linea aspera – posterior ridge that serves as the attachment for multiple muscle and the intermuscular septa, 3 ridges superiorly becomes two ridges inferiorly that diverge to for the triangular popliteal surface
Distal:
- Flared head with two rounded synovial line condyles
- Synovial surface anteriorly for articulation with the patella
- Bilateral epicondyles superior to each condyle
Femur: Joints
Femoroacetabular – femoral head with the acetabulum, synovial ball and socket with fibrous capsule
Patellofemoral – between the patella groove and the articular surface of the patella
Tibiofemoral – between the medial and lateral condyles and the medial and lateral tibial plateau
Femur: Neurovasculature
Arterial:
- Artery of ligamentum terres
- Anterior and posterior humeral circumflex
- Perforating braches from profunda femoris
- Popliteal and genicular arteries distally
Venous:
- Anterior and posterior femoral circumflex veins to the greater saphenous veins
- Popliteal and deep femoral veins to the common iliac veins
Innervation:
- Femoral and tibial nerves
Femur: Variants
- Coxa valgus/varus
- Hip dysplasia
- Os acetabula
Patella: Description
The patella is the largest sesamoid bone in the human body. It lies within the quadriceps tendon / patellar ligament and forms part of the knee joint.
Patella: Articulation
Articular surface is covered in hyaline cartilage. It articulates with the trochlear groove of the femur (anterior distal surface between the medial and lateral condyles).
Patella: Gross Anatomy
- The patella is triangular in shape with a superior base and inferior apex.
- The posterior surface is smooth, composed of articular cartilage, and is divided into medial and lateral facets, which are sub divided into superior, middle and inferior portions.
- The lateral facet is the largest (this counters the tendency for the quadriceps to pull the patella laterally).
- The anterior surface is rough, for attachment of tendons and ligaments.
Patella: Attachments
Ligaments:
- Patellar ligament – from the apex of the patella to the tibial tuberosity
- Medial and lateral patellar retinaculum
- Medial and lateral patellofemoral ligament (MPFL and LPFL).
Muscles:
- Quadriceps tendon superiorly (really the same thing as the patellar ligament).
Patella: Relations
- superior: common tendon of quadratus femoris, suprapatellar bursa
- inferior: patellar tendon, infrapatellar bursa, infrapatellar fat pad
- lateral: lateral patellar retinaculum
- medial: medial patellar retinaculum
- posterior: knee joint, femur
- anterior: prepatellar bursa
Patella: Neurovsculature
Blood supply:
- Anastomotic rings formed from the branches of the superior and inferior geniculate arteries
Innervation:
- branches of nerves to vastus medialis and vastus lateralis
Patella: Variants
- bipartite patella
- multipartite patella
- absent patella
- variation in shape (see: Wiberg classification)
- dorsal defect of the patella (may occasionally be symptomatic)
Knee Joint: Description
The knee joint is a modified hinge joint between the thigh and the leg
Movements: Flexion and extension
Knee Joint: Gross Anatomy
Type: Synovial joint with a capsule (largest synovial joint in the body)
Articulations:
- Femoral condyles with tibial plateaus
- Patella with the patella groove of the femur
Knee Joint: Ligaments
- Medial collateral ligament
- Lateral collateral ligament
- Anterior cruciate ligament
- Posterior cruciate ligament
- Meniscofemoral ligaments
- Anterolateral and posterolateral ligaments
Knee Joint: Menisci
- Medial – larger, c-shaped, attached to the MCL laterally
- Lateral – smaller, almost a complete circle
Knee Joint: Bursa
- Pre-patella bursa
- Supra-patella bursa
- Deep and superficial Infrapatella bursa
- Semimembranous bursa
Knee Joint: Fat pads
- Hoffa’s deep to the patella tendon
- Suprapatella fat pad
Knee Joint: Neurovasculature
Arterial supply:
- Superior and inferior, medial and lateral, Genicular branches of the popliteal artery
- Descending genicular from the femoral
- Descending branch of the lateral circumflex
- Circumflex fibular
Venous: into the popliteal and femoral veins
Innervation: Femoral and genicular branches from the tibial and fibular nerves
Knee Joint: Variants
- Patella – dorsal patella defect, bipartite, absent
- Baker’s cyst
- Discoid meniscus
- Flabella
Hamstrings: Description
The hamstrings are the muscles of the posterior compartment of the thigh and include the:
- lateral: biceps femoris
- medial: semimembranosus and semitendinosus
Function: flex knee and extend hip
Hamstrings: Gross anatomy
Apart from the short head of biceps femoris, the muscles share two common features:
- span both the hip and knee joints
- originate from the ischial tuberosity
The short head of the biceps femoris originates from the linear aspera
Hamstrings: Biceps femoris
2 heads (long and short)
Origin is the Ischial tuberosity (long) and linea aspera (short)
Insertion is the fibular head
Innervation: tibial nerve
Artery: Inferior gluteal and popliteal artery
Hamstrings: Semitendinosus
Origin Ischial Tubersotirty
Accompanies semimembranoiss however forms tendon 2/3 down thigh
Inserts on the medial superior tibial condyle, pes anserisus posterior to the gracillis
Innervation: tibial nerve
Artery: Inferior gluteal and popliteal artery
Hamstrings: Semimembranosus
Origin Ischial tuberositiy
Inserts on the medial tibial condyle and posterior joint capsule
Innervation: tibial nerve
Artery: Inferior gluteal and popliteal artery
Hamstrings: Pes Anserius
- Sartorius
- Gracilis
- Semitendinoisis
Gastrocnemius: Attachments
- origin: above the lateral and medial femoral condyle
- insertion: calcaneal (Achilles) tendon into mid-posterior calcaneus
Gastrocnemius: Neurovasculature
- arterial supply: sural arteries
- innervation: tibial nerve (sciatic nerve nerve roots S1 and S2)
Gastrocnemius: Description
antagonist: tibialis anterior
action: plantar flexes foot and flexes knee
Gastrocnemius: Relations
- superficial to soleus
- forms the inferior borders of the popliteal fossa
Gastrocnemius: Variants
Fabella
Soleus: Attachments
- origin: fibula and medial border of the tibia (soleal line) via the inverted tendinous arch
- insertion: tendo calcaneus (Achilles tendon) into mid-posterior calcaneus
Soleus: Neurovasculature
- arterial supply: sural arteries
- innervation: tibial nerve (sciatic nerve roots L5 to S2)
Soleus: Relations
deep to the gastrocnemius
the popliteal artery and tibial nerve exit the popliteal fossa by passing under the tendinous arch
Soleus: Variants
- Accessory soleus Muscle
Arterial Supply of the foot: Description
Arterial supply of the foot is the vascular system that supplies oxygenated blood to the foot
Gross anatomy:
The arterial supply of the foot can be divided into plantar and dorsal components:
Medial Plantar artery
Origin: posterior tibial branch
Supplies: the medial side of the foot and the first toe
Termination: the 1 st medial plantar digital artery
Lateral Plantar artery
Origin: Posterior tibial artery
Course: Cross the foot toward the base of the 5 th metatarsal
Supplies: lateral intrinsic muscle of the foot
Termination: As the Plantar arch
Plantar arch
Connects the dorsalis pedis with the lateral plantar artery
Lies deep to the plantar aponeurosis
Branches: Plantar metatarsal arteries
Termination: connects with dorsalis pedis in the first metatarsal interspace
Dorsal Arterial Supply of the foot
Dorsalis pedis
Origin: Continuation of the anterior tibial artery
Course: Runs lateral to the extensor halluces longus tendon
Termination: continues as the first metatarsal artery
Branches:
- First dorsal metatarsal artery
- Medial tarsal arteries
- Lateral tarsal arteries
- Arcuate artery
- Dorsal metatarsal arteries
Popliteal Artery: Description
Large artery of the popliteal fossa
Supplies: Primary supply for the leg below the knee
Popliteal Artery: Gross Anatomy
Origin: A continuation of the superficial femoral artery as it passes out of the adductor hiatus
Course:
- Through the popliteal fossa where it is the deepest structure
- Through the fibrous arch of soleus
Termination:
Bifurcation into the anterior tibial and the tibioperoneal trunk
Popliteal Artery: Branches
Medial and lateral, superior and inferior genicular arteries
Middle genicular artery
Popliteal Artery: Relation
Popliteal artery is the most deep structure in the popliteal fossa
Deep to the popliteal vein
Popliteal Artery: Variation
- Trifurcation
- Peroneal from the anterior tibial
- High origin of the anterior tibial
- High origin of the posterior tibial
- Very long tibioperoneal trunk
- Hypoplastic infrapopliteal vessels
- Popliteal artery entrapment
Great Saphenous Vein: Description
The long and short saphenous veins are superficial veins of the lower limb
Function: return oxygenated blood from the lower limb to the iliac veins
Gross anatomy:
Both have valves
Origin: continuation of the medial marginal vein of the foot
Termination: Pierces the deep facia of the femoral triangle draining into the saphenofemoral junction. 99% have a valve within 2mm of the SFJ
Great Saphenous Vein: Course
It passes anterior to the medial malleolus, ascending in the saphenous space between the saphenous fascia superficially and the deep fascia, it is closely related to the saphenous nerve(s) below the knee.
Great Saphenous Vein: Tributaries
- Small saphenous vein
- Unnamed superficial veins of the leg
- Medial marginal vein of the foot
- Superficial epigastric
- Superficial circumflex iliac
- Superficial external iliac
- Superficial external pudendal
- Multiple deep perforators to the deep system
Lesser Saphenous Vein: Description
Origin: Confluence of the lateral aspect of the venous network of the dorsum of the foot
Termination: Pierces the deep fascia of the popliteal fossa to drain into the popliteal vein
Lesser Saphenous Vein: Course
Posterior to the lateral malleolus, ascending in the subcutaneous tissues of the lateral leg
Lesser Saphenous Vein: Tributaries
- Multiple unnamed superficial branches
- Great saphenous vein
- Multiple perforators to the deep venous system
Lesser Saphenous Vein: Relations
Course closely associated with the sural nerve
Lesser Saphenous Vein: Variants
- Vein of Giacomini
- Duplication
- Absence
- Fenestration
Talus: Description
The talus is a tarsal bone in the hindfoot that articulates with the tibia, fibula, calcaneus, and navicular bones. It has no muscular attachments and around 60% of its surface is covered by articular cartilage.
Talus: Gross anatomy
Body:
- The talar body has a curved smooth talar dome, which is covered with cartilage.
- Other parts of the talar body include the central portion, the posterior process and the lateral process.
Head:
- The talar head is the part that articulates with the navicular bone.
Neck:
- The talar head and body are connected by the talar neck, which is inclined downwards distally and medially.
- The medial surface of the talar neck has a sulcus, the sulcus tali, that forms the tarsal sinus with calcaneual sulcus of the calcaneum
Talus: Articulation
- Talar body: tibia, fibula and calcaneus
- Talar head: navicular bone
Talar ligaments
Lateral:
- Anterior talofibular ligament
- Posterior talofibular ligament
- Talocalcaneal ligaments
Deep:
Tarsal sinus ligaments:
- cervical ligament
- talocalcaneal interosseous ligament
Medial:
Deltoid ligament:
- anterior tibiotalar ligament
- posterior superficial tibiotalar ligament
- posterior deep tibiotalar ligament
Talus: Neurovasculature
Anterior and posterior tibial arteries
Peroneal artery
The vascular supply to the talus is considered tenuous due to the lack of muscular attachment to the bone
Innervation: deep peroneal nerve, tibial nerve, saphenous nerve, sural nerves
Talus: Variant anatomy
- talocalcaneal coalition
- the posterior process of the talus may not be fused to the central portion of the body, resulting in an os trigonum
- congenital vertical talus
Tibia: Description
The tibia is the largest bone of the leg and contributes to the knee and ankle joints. It is medial to and much stronger than the fibula, exceeded in length only by the femur.
Osteology
The tibia has a prismoid shaft, expanded ends, proximal larger condylar shelf articulating at the knee, and distal smaller end with a strong medial malleolus forming the ankle.